Supervision for Spiritual Direction
Community is not optional—it’s mandatory!
If you have been trained as a spiritual director, you know the importance of not trying to do this work alone. Just as it is for those of us who want to follow Jesus of Nazareth, so it is for Christ-centered spiritual directors: Community is not optional…it’s mandatory!
That’s why, here at The Contemplative Activist, we offer the work of supervision to those spiritual directors who are looking for Christ-centered, biblically-based support and encouragement for their practice in spiritual direction.
What exactly is supervision?
Maureen Conroy, author of Looking Into The Well: Supervision of Spiritual Directors, says this:
Supervision is the processing of the inner experiences of spiritual directors that are evoked during direction sessions in order to help a director grow in awareness of their reactions and responses, to allow a director to respond in a God-centered and interiorly free manner, and to maintain a contemplative focus.
If you are currently practicing spiritual direction and are looking for a supervisor, a spiritual companion coming alongside you in your work, please drop us a note. We have a wonderful supervision tool we call the Contemplative Reflection Form (CRF), developed by Sharon Wada, co-director of Sustainable Faith, as she was doing her Masters work in spiritual formation at San Francisco Theological Seminary. This CRF format, when used alongside gentle conversation can truly assist a director in becoming all God wants you to be as you practice this ancient discipline of spiritual direction.
Supervision Options
Individual
In Groups
We offer both individual one-hour sessions via online communications, or we are able to assist you in organizing and facilitating a highly successful peer-supervision group in your area.
Qualified Supervisors to walk with you
Iowa City, Iowa
Marty has been actively involved in pastoral ministry for 30+ years and now serves the larger body of Christ through our popular blog and website: The Contemplative Activist. Here, pastors and church leaders are encouraged to slow down, re-evaluate their work in ministry, and become, what we call, Christ-centered 3-C contemplative activists for the greater glory of God. Marty’s passion is to come alongside pastors and church leaders, companioning them in the care of their soul as they juggle the heavy demands of ministry. Marty, and his wife Sandy, have served as co-trainers/teachers of spiritual direction with the Sustainable Faith Schools of Spiritual Direction since 2015.
Eagle, Idaho
Dick is a retired Presbyterian Minister (PCUSA), who has moved out of pastoral ministry so he could devote more time and energy to the current passions in his life: spiritual formation, spiritual direction, and supervision of spiritual directors. To prepare for this phase in his life and ministry Dick completed a two-year certificate program in Spiritual Formation and Direction from CFDM in 2014 and in 2016, a certificate in the Supervision of Spiritual Directors. Dick is a member of SDI. Dick’s mission is to support others in finding the next step on their spiritual path by being a generous listening companion. He also accompanies people through The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius using Larry Warner’s book, Journey with Jesus or other guidebooks suited to the person’s background and interests. You can find out more about Dick and his ministry by emailing him or calling (208) 608-2634.
Are you interested in doing more reading on the subject of supervision?
Connect with a the Spiritual Director
We have a growing community of spiritual directors you can connect with and contact
